Contestant Information Packet For more information, please visit our website:

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Contestant Information Packet For more information, please visit our website: www.valleycatholic.

1 Contestant Information Packet For more information, please visit our website: Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade contestants participate in three rounds: an elocution round, an extemporaneous reading, and an impromptu speaking round. (*Change for the 2019 tournament Sixth grade students will also participate in Round Three, the impromptu speaking.) Round One: Elocution The contestant will be expected to deliver from memory, without the assistance of notes, an elocution piece 3 to 4 minutes in length. This may be an original composition, prose, or poetry taken from a book or printed copy. Student scores will be penalized for speeches that exceed or fall short of the 3-4 minute time limit for all grade levels. There are three divisions in this round for sixth, seventh and eighth grade: serious, humorous and patriotic. (*Due to low participant numbers, we are no longer offering an Original Composition category for the eighth grade.) Parents, coaches and visitors may observe the students present their speeches. Everyone must stay in the assigned room until all contestants in all rooms are finished with each round. Thank you! Round Two: Extemporaneous Reading This round is set up to determine how well the contestant can read with only 10 minutes of preparation. Students may have help during those ten minutes from parents, teachers or friends. All contestants will receive the same selection, but they will have no opportunity to hear the preceding contestants read. After the ten-minute practice period is over, students will return the selection to the judge s assistant. The judge s assistant will instruct contestants to wait outside the door until they are called to read, at which time the selection will be given back. Parents, coaches and visitors may help the contestants practice the reading during the initial 10-minute practice period. Once the practice readings are collected, all parents, coaches, and visitors must enter the classroom WITHOUT their students and wait to hear their reading or go to the coaches room, cafeteria, or lobby and wait for the end of round two. No coach, parent or visitor is allowed in the hallways during round two.

2 Round Three: Impromptu Speaking* *Please note the change for the 2019 tournament Sixth grade students will also participate in Round Three, the impromptu speaking. In the third round, contestants will draw a slip of paper with four possible topics for an impromptu speech. Students will be expected to prepare and deliver a two-to-three minute speech on one of the topics drawn. A ten-minute period of complete silence will be observed while contestants plan and write their speeches (note cards and pencils provided). The speech should contain a brief introduction, two to three main points of development, and a logical conclusion. Only notes prepared during the time provided may be used during delivery. Student scores will be penalized for speeches that exceed or fall short of the 2-3 minute time limit for all grade levels. Note cards will be collected at the end of the ten-minute period and held by the judge s assistant until it is the student s turn to present the impromptu speech. All students will be expected to read the topic (word) they have chosen to the judge and then begin their speech. Parents, coaches and visitors will need to wait until all contestants are finished writing their impromptu speeches before they are allowed to enter the classrooms/contestant rooms. This will be ten minutes after round three begins. When the judge s assistant has finished collecting each contestant s note cards, the classroom doors will be opened, allowing observers to enter. The Final Round: Elocution Tie-Breaker In the event of a tie, students will present their elocution speeches before a panel of judges. Scores will be calculated and prizes will be determined after this round. This round is for all contestants who tie for prizes.

3 General Information Please arrive at Valley Catholic High School between 7:45 and 8:00 a.m. Report to the Valiants gym lobby and look for your school. The competition finishes at 2:30 p.m. with the awards ceremony occurring after the tie-breaker, approx. 3:00 p.m. Parking is challenging so please build in extra time to look for parking. This may include the need to park in the KMart parking lot and walking over to the competition. Location of Tournament The tournament will be held on the Valley Catholic School Campus, located at 4275 S.W. 148th Avenue, Beaverton (near the corner of TV Highway and Murray Blvd.). Check-In for all contestants will be held in the Valiants Gym lobby. Following check-in, a general assembly will be held in the gym before the competition begins. Entrance Fee*: To cover the expenses of conducting this tournament, a fee of $15.00 is charged for each contestant. Refunds are not allowed, but transfers will be accepted. For example: If Allison Gray registers and is not able to attend, John Black may re-register in her place on the day of the tournament. However, he/she must enter the same category (serious or humorous) and must be in the same grade as the student he/she is replacing. *Please note: The speech coach from your child s school is responsible for registering all of his/her students on-line and sending one check for all participating students. Please check with your coach for specific details. Awards 1. Eighth Grade a. Tuition scholarships worth $500 and trophies will be awarded to the eighth grade student with the highest combined score in each of the three speech divisions (serious, humorous, patriotic). Scholarships will be paid directly to the Catholic high school of the winner s choice. 2. Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Grade a. Trophies will be awarded first place, second place, third place, and honorable mention in each of the three grade-level speech divisions (serious, humorous, patriotic). Awards Presentation Trophies will be presented and scholarships will be announced at the awards ceremony. The scholarship winner in each eighth grade division will deliver his/her elocution speech to the audience.

4 General Information Continued: Who May Attend? We welcome any interested teachers, parents, or sixth, seventh, eighth grade students. Spectators may not sit near or interfere with the judges. Flash photography, videotaping, and cell phones are not allowed during the competition (Rounds One - Four), but it is acceptable to take photos or video during the awards presentation. A person may neither enter nor leave the room during the session. Children who are in fourth grade or younger are not invited. Who Are the Judges? Generally, the judges are members of the community at large, school teachers and administrators, members of Toastmasters and International Training in Communication Clubs of the Beaverton area. They serve in the capacity of objective, competent judges for all the rounds. How Do I Dress? Although each school has slightly different requirements for their contestants, students should dress in nice clothing. Presentation is important, and this includes personal appearance. Students are to dress and groom themselves in a manner that is modest, clean and appropriate to a Catholic school academic environment. While parents and students have the primary responsibility for personal appearance, the school administration is responsible for interpreting dress code regulations. Valley Catholic School Administration reserves the right to disqualify any student who is dressed inappropriately. The following guidelines are used to determine appropriate dress: Clothing should be neat, tasteful and hemmed. Skirts, dresses, or slits can be no more than two inches above the knee. Dresses must have sleeves and modest necklines. All shirts and blouses must have sleeves and a modest neckline. No sheer, midriff, tight, or clingy tops. No stomach or back skin can show when both arms are raised above shoulder height. Sleeves should extend at least three inches down the arm beyond the edge of the shoulder. Clothing may not be excessively baggy, and pants must be fitted at the waist. Jeans and sweatshirts are not recommended.

5 General Information Continued: Snacks and Lunch You will eat lunch in the cafeteria or Valiants gymnasium. Please bring money to purchase food at the tournament or remember to bring your own sack lunch. Coffee, tea, and other drinks (bottled water, sodas, etc.) and various snacks (bagels, muffins, candy bars, etc.) will be available for purchase throughout the day and at lunch. Sandwiches, dessert, and beverages will be available for sale in both the elementary and high school cafeterias. Items will be sold a la carte. (We no longer offer preordered lunches.) Parents Please come to help your child! Please be sure to invite your parents to attend the tournament with you. They are able to help you on Round Two and are a good source of support. On any given year, roughly two-thirds of the parents do attend with their child. Please do not bring your other children unless they are fifth grade or older. What if I Arrive Late? Whether you are a contestant, parent, or coach, if you arrive to VCS after 8:15 a.m., please go immediately to the main Valley Catholic High School office. There you will be provided with the room assignments and a VCS staff member will direct you to the competition classroom. If the tournament is underway, you will not be allowed to enter the competition classroom while a contestant is mid-speech. Please wait until the end on the speech to enter..

Schedule for Saturday, February 15, 2014 at St. Monica

Schedule for Saturday, February 15, 2014 at St. Monica Schedule for 2013-2014 Fall Warm Up Meet: Winter Warm Up Meet: Final Meet: Saturday, October 19, 2013 at St. Rita Saturday, December 7, 2013 at Bishop Dunne Saturday, February 15, 2014 at St. Monica General